Collecting MadVideos -- 'Look at Me' by National Beekeepers Society

National Beekeepers Society has been busy in the studio this winter, as the Madison-based indie quartet gets to work on the follow-up to its self-titled debut released last year. The first full song to emerge from their work so far is "Look at Me," a rollicking and raw two-minute burst that buzzes through the culture of celebrity obsession. It's also featured in the band's new music video, made over the course of two days last week by bassist and singer Kris Hansen.

"The idea has been rolling around in my head for awhile now, and I just finally sat down and did it," he says. The video pulls together two kinds of imagery, he explains, together "focusing on the celebrity/TV culture fantasy juxtaposed with the black and white reality. Nowadays, the junkie in the video is more likely to be on the magazines than the fantasy/models."

Hansen acquired the stock footage for the video from two sources. "The color film is from a classic 1956 advertisement for seamless nylon stockings," he explains. "The black and white film is a 1969 anti-drug short film called 'A Day in the Death of Donny B.' It's a well-acted, dark PSA from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that is in the public domain." He also notes that this latter source itself features a "great bluesy '60s song of the same name," one that is available online for listening.

This is the second video from NBS, their last being a similarly well-executed DIY take on their laid-back semi-acoustic song "Scars" from last year's album. The band's new music video follows below.

"Look at Me" is likely to appear on the new album by NBS, which its members hope to release sometime this spring or summer. Since the group has been busy in the studio, it hasn't been able to play many shows over the last few months. There is a chance to see them live this weekend, though.

National Beekeepers Society is opening for free show at Club 770 in the UW-Madison Union South on Saturday, February 2.

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